I like that third shot when using steel on a tough target like ducks. According to "ammo sellers/experts" a steel 2 has the same energy as a lead 4. The energy of the individual pellet is not as important as the total energy we can put on target and it is significantly less with the fewer pellets on target of steel. This is why the ducks are often knocked out of the sky to only swim away. Thus the need of a third shot. Secondly duck hunting is really hard on guns, water, mud, blowing dust and all the crap that is needed for a duck or goose hunt can cause guns to get scratched and sometimes sunk. Me, I like an ugly pump for ducks, nice guns for upland shooting.
But it is for you to do what you want to do. You're not me.
I have a backup shot for crippled ducks ...... it is my other barrel. Nothing predicates that I must shoot twice, and then require a third shot for cripples. And, if I am fortunate enough to double on ducks and need a finishing shot, I can reload my ejector doubles plenty fast enough. I have never lost a duck, that I can recall, because I wasn't shooting an automatic or a pump. I will use an auto on rare occasions, but it's not because it affords me 3 shots. It's because I don't want my HE Fox, or my BSS to get submerged.
I can see where these folks who prefer extractor guns would take a bit longer to reload and finish off a cripple, but I'm not in that camp. Cold fingers and/or thick gloves do not go well with extractor guns, IMO.
As you said, pooch, in a manner of speaking, to each his own.
SRH
